Florida, Alabama Officers Pledge To Crack Down On Drunk, Unsafe Driving

August 26, 2014

Law enforcement agencies from Florida and Alabama met Monday at the I-10 Florida Welcome Center to mark the kickoff of the “Hands Across the Border” campaign toe promote safe Labor Day driving.

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes – in 2013, there were nearly 1,000 alcohol related fatalities across Florida, according to Florida’s Department of Transportation.

Officers both states pledged Monday to work together this holiday weekend to ensure drivers are maintaining safe speeds, not drinking and driving and always using their safety belts.

“Every year, and every holiday weekend, we continue to see far too many people suffer debilitating injuries and loss of life as a result of impaired driving,” said Tim Roberts, Florida Law Enforcement Liaison representative for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. “This careless disregard for human lives must stop, which is why Florida and Alabama’s law enforcement agencies will be arresting impaired drivers wherever and whenever they find them during the Labor Day holiday.”

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Florida, Alabama Officers Pledge To Crack Down On Drunk, Unsafe Driving”

  1. Lavern Harp on August 27th, 2014 8:16 am

    So proud of all of you, thanks for a job well done always, my heart and prayers are with law enforcement every day

  2. JT on August 26th, 2014 6:26 pm

    @DJSheffield – Law enforcement in Florida can not pull someone for texting and driving. In Florida it is a secondary offense meaning it can only be enforced if they commit another violation at the same time. Doesn’t make sense to make laws that law enforcement can not enforce…..but that’s Florida for you.

  3. ECSO Deputy on August 26th, 2014 6:01 pm

    FSS 316.305 (5) Enforcement of this section by state or local law enforcement agencies must be accomplished only as a secondary action when an operator of a motor vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of another provision of this chapter, chapter 320, or chapter 322.

    Which means it is not a primary reason to stop a vehicle.

  4. DJSheffield on August 26th, 2014 2:29 pm

    It would be nice if they would crack down on the texting and driving. It has become more dangerous situations on our roads than drinking and driving. I am not saying drinking and driving doesn’t exist, because it does. WIthin the last year there has moer deaths caused by texting and driving over the speed limits. So many lives are being lost because of ignorance and the failure for human life.

    The law was passed…so when is LEO going to start showing their authority and giving stiff tickets for texting and driving? I can only hope that the point system for a ticket will exceed extremely higher and no able to take any test to keep the posts of their license, as well as their insurance increases another 20%.